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Tutor's passion for teaching benefits those seeking GED

By Valerie CranstonSpecial to the Current-Argus

Posted:
01/27/2013 08:51:08 AM MST

Studying to earn a high school diploma after dropping out can be a challenge at any age.

General Educational Development study is available to anyone who has not earned a high school diploma and is not enrolled in high school. The GED is made up of five tests: language arts, math, social studies, science and writing.

"The whole nature of the test is changing," said Bertha Jasso, Adult Basic Education coordinator at New Mexico State University-Carlsbad.

"We want to get the word out about the changes early, so test-takers who have yet to retake parts of the exam they failed the first time get a chance to finish those sections before the current GED expires in December 2013," she added.

Jasso said 2014 test-takers will have to start fresh, even if they only had one portion of the test left to make up. The 2014 GED test will be taken on computer at designated testing centers and is the same test currently offered on paper.

Testing centers in New Mexico are located at Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell, Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces, and Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque.

"The GED test is never offered online," Jasso said.

Testing centers across the country will be linked through a digital network in 2014, allowing students to register and take the test at any certified testing center, she said.

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Elisha Hernandez, ABE instructor

Elisha Hernandez said she became an ABE instructor to fulfill her inner need to help others through education. She chose ABE to help students make a change in their lives. She teaches individuals in Loving and the surrounding area. She works full time for the Waste Isolation Pilot Project as an analyst for Central Characterization.

She teaches ABE classes from 5-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Loving Middle School. She also participates in online classes with Columbia Southern University working toward a master's degree in environmental management.

"I started last year in January and since, I have had five individuals go for the GED test," she said. "To me, that is an accomplishment. These individuals have been wanting to attend but had lifetime dilemmas. They made a commitment and they did it.
"GED classes and all materials are free and offered by the university," she added, explaining that currently, it costs $75 to take the GED test, but the cost goes up to $125 in 2014.

She knows how important education is and what it can do for a career. She also fully understands how life sometimes itself throws up roadblocks and individuals need a little help or encouragement.

Her working career began at the Carlsbad Municipal School Administration office her senior year of high school. She then went to work for Allsup's after graduation, and then worked a while for Dr. Guiterrez. At age 19, she began working at WIPP, first as a records clerk and then in an administrative position.

"Once I had my child, I realized, in order for her to become successful, I needed to set the footprints," said Hernandez, noting she obtained a bachelor's degree in computer science and two master's degrees - one in human resources and one in engineering - with the financial assistance of the company.

Her daughter, Ariana Gonzalez, 19, is currently attending NMSU-C full time and her future plans include a degree as a certified nurse practitioner.
"Knowledge is power and my motto to my students is you can be whatever you want to be. Every time they step into my class they are learning something and that is something no one can take away from them," she added, noting although she isn't a teacher by profession, teaching is her passion.

"Some individuals look down at others in food and service industries. We all have to start somewhere and it's never too late to start."

Roseann Olivas,
student

Roseann Olivas, 42, dropped out of high school during her junior year because she was pregnant. She tried the first time for her GED in 1998, when she and her husband both took the test. He passed and she didn't.

She didn't try again until January 2010 when she started taking classes under Anna Marie Rocha. She wanted to take the tests that May, but really felt she wasn't ready.

"I took the GED test in November (2012) and I passed everything but math," Olivas said, noting her current instructor is Elisha Hernandez and she encourages the students to study, study, study and do the homework she assigns.

"Hopefully by Feb. 13 I get to do my math test. I'm studying a lot," she added.

Olivas wants to go to college and get an office job. When she gets her diploma, she wants to enroll in business administration classes at NMSU-C.
She was hoping to get her GED before her three children graduated from high school. That didn't happen, but they keep encouraging her and cheering her on.

"Hopefully, I'll get my diploma before my grandkids start school," Olivas said with a smile and determination.

"We're never too old," she added.

Kasie Gonzalez,
student

Kasie Gonzalez, 23, dropped out of high school at the end of her junior year at the age of 17. She had a child at age 15 but still managed to go to school. Then, she said, a mix up on credits resulted in the then high school principal wanting to send her back to the ninth grade. It was more than she could handle at the time and going back to the ninth grade seemed a little drastic and degrading, she said.

She said the principal said she could drop out if her mother signed a paper. He also wanted her to promise to get her GED, she said.

"Just because I had a kid didn't mean I didn't want to finish school," Gonzalez said, noting when she took placement tests, they showed she needed tutoring mainly in math.

Gonzalez began taking GED classes, then took a break and then came back. She stays at home with her three children. She has to have 40 hours of class time and hopes to pass her GED tests later this year. Her family is very support of her goal.

"I never gave up on my goal to get my education," she said, adding she trusts Hernandez's judgment as to when she is ready to take the tests.
Gonzalez also wants to attend NMSU-C. She wants to take the basic colleges courses first and then see where it leads her in the future, which is possibly to open a day care.

"There's no point in giving up on yourself," Gonzalez said. "I want to do this for my kids," she added, noting, it is a way they can learn by example.

Valerie Hernandez, student

Valerie Hernandez, 16, is the daughter of Robert and Grace Hernandez and the niece of Elisha Hernandez. She said left Carlsbad High School because didn't like the atmosphere, and enrolled in Faith Christian Academy.

She then left Faith Christian Academy because she didn't feel she was learning what she needed. She enrolled in a program at NMSU-C to work on getting her diploma. She said is comfortable there and feels she is learning a lot.

"I like math the best and I like learning about science," she said.

"After I get my GED diploma this year, I want to go to the nursing program at the college," she added.

"You as a parent log in and complete the information and receive a code (on the New Mexico Public Education Department website). You then take that code to NMSU or ENMU and that entitles you to attend the college as an underage student," Elisha Hernandez said.

By completing the necessary paperwork, Valerie Hernandez's parents were able to obtain the home school confirmation number and provide it to NMSU-C so Jasso could coordinate with the state. She must attend the two-hour sessions, four times a week. Elisha Hernandez received Valerie's test scores and she tested at a high level so she doesn't see a problem getting her GED testing complete by May.

"The NMSU at Carlsbad GED actually gives the student a state accredited New Mexico High School Diploma that actually entitles you to receive the New Mexico lottery (scholarship). You are receiving the same diploma that any New Mexico high school graduate receives," she added.

***

Elisha Hernandez loves what she does and will accommodate oilfield works and truck drivers if they can only attend on Saturday. Whatever it takes to get those who want their GED is what she will do. She has picked students up for study and has even offered to pay the testing fee if a hardship exists.

"I don't want them coming up with a barrier," she said, noting she hopes other individuals who have been thinking of getting their GED will come forward and make the call to the ABE Department.

She teaches and tutors all the subjects in Loving. Most other instructors focus on one subject. If she can't answer a student's question on the spot, especially a math one, she asks her boss, Jim Walker, or other peers at work and then reports back to the student.

"The testing is changing in 2014 to more computerized based learning, which in my mind could be difficult because the target audience is not always computer literate," said Elisha Hernandez.

"My goal is to make them succeed and I believe I have a gift that can help these individuals better themselves through education," she added.

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